Today the Boston Police Bureau of Internal Investigations (BII) announces developments related to the ongoing audit of the Boston Police central drug depository. As previously reported, then-Acting Police Commissioner Albert E. Goslin, in conjunction with the Commander of the Evidence Management Unit, Captain Francis Armstrong, requested a routine audit of the drug depository based on the sheer scope and volume of evidence maintained at the facility. The preliminary review indicated discrepancies and prompted a thorough and exhaustive investigation of the inventory.Newly appointed Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis stated, “Superintendent-in-Chief Al Goslin and Captain Frank Armstrong have worked in concert to uncover this problem. I have the utmost confidence in their handling of this investigation. Commissioner Davis added, “Earning public trust requires that we discharge our responsibilities professionally and with the utmost integrity. We will vigorously seek to identify and pursue any indicators of corruption or mismanagement. Effective community policing requires that we hold ourselves to very high standards to engender credibility with the communities we serve.”
As a result of new evidence uncovered, findings suggest that evidence tampering is not solely historical, but also current. BII will now take aggressive steps to move this investigation forward. At this juncture, the Boston Police Department (BPD) has requested the counsel of the Massachusetts State Police. The State Police have developed a recognized model for evidence management and the BPD will seek to replicate their practice. The BPD views the experience and input from the State Police as a major asset as this case moves forward.
In addition to working with the State Police, BII has also limited access of the facility to only those directly involved with the audit and investigative process. Lastly, all current personnel, who had access to drug evidence, will be temporarily transferred from the facility to an alternative assignment.
According to Superintendent-in-Chief Albert E. Goslin, “Due diligence requires that we transfer all employees with access to drug evidence. This step is necessary to both protect the investigative process and ensure the integrity of the current drug evidence. This in no way should be seen as compromising our original intent behind this investigation: to identify the person or persons responsible without compromising the professionalism and honor of others associated with the unit.”
A department dedicated to preventing and when necessary uncovering criminal activity is crucial to the establishment of an effective, credible and trustworthy police force. This department has zero tolerance for officers who undermine public confidence at the expense of those men and women who do their jobs faithfully and courageously every single day. We will continue to take all necessary measures to find the person or persons responsible and if identified, the case will be pursued aggressively.
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